Chapter 621: Fall of An Old Friend, Meeting Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang Again

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

At this moment, Jiang Anran seemed to have merged her aura with the surrounding environment, exuding a vast and ascending momentum.

It was evident that she was close to taking the final step into a new realm.

The only decision she needed to make was whether to use the existing resources of the Jiang family to form an Earth Nascent Soul or to strive for the rare opportunity of forming a Heaven Nascent Soul by contending for the Heaven Nascent Soul.

Jiang Anran had clearly made up her mind.

She said respectfully to Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan,

“Shifu, I’m preparing to travel far in a month to the Sky Plains to fight for the Origin Qi.”

According to the time, the connection between heaven and earth that happened every 60 years would appear on the Sky Plains pretty soon.

At that time, anyone who had a desire for the Heaven Nascent Soul would go there to fight for a glimmer of hope.

Of course, Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan would not reject their disciple’s request.

Shen Ruyan took out a few talismans and handed them to Jiang Anran.

“Anran, these talismans were personally refined by your Shifu and me. Take them as your life-saving trump cards.

I believe you know better than anyone how to use them well.”

“Yes, thank you for the talisman, Shifu Shen.

Don’t worry. I understand how to use them and will not become dependent on these talismans.”

“Good!”

Hearing this, both Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan smiled in relief.

Then, Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan gave the others some pointers on cultivation.

Everyone felt that they had gained a lot. They had a clear direction in their hearts as to how to cultivate in the future.

Finally, the couple inquired about the recent developments within the Jiang family and the broader Northern Border cultivation world.

As they had observed upon arrival, the Jiang family, or rather the state of Jiang, was progressing well in a positive direction without any significant or extraordinary incidents.

As for the entire cultivation world of the Northern Border,

It was said that shortly after their departure, the major cross-region teleportation arrays to the Eastern End, Southern Wilderness, and Central Plain were closed.

The specific reasons were unclear at the moment.

However, Earth Walker and Yan Wushuang from the Hidden Sword Palace, Su Qingchan from the Everlasting Palace, Sword Lord Azure Blue and Perfected Lord Wind Cloud from the Black Sea Pavilion and the Purple Sun Palace all came to the Jiang family one after another to inquire about Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan’s whereabouts and their expected return time.

This information led Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan to suspect that these events might be related to the earlier upheavals in the Southern Wilderness.

It seemed that both the Northern Border and the Western Desert were aware of the ambitions of the Eastern End and Central Plain.

However, they would need to visit these major Soul Formation sects personally to understand the situation in detail.

“By the way…”

At that moment, Jiang Renyi, the family head, hesitantly informed Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan of some sad news.

“Just two years before your return, Elder Rushuang and Elder Baifei of the Shen family have passed away in meditation.”

This sudden news cast a shadow over Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan’s hearts.

Although they had been mentally prepared for such news, hearing it firsthand still brought a sense of melancholy.

Especially Shen Ruyan.

As someone who grew up in the Shen family, she had a deeper relationship with Shen Rushuang and Shen Baifei.

This made her and Jiang Chengxuan realize something even more clearly.

It was inevitable that with the passage of time, they would see more of their friends and family members passing away.

Eventually, they might be among the few left in this world.

After everyone had left, Shen Ruyan turned to Jiang Chengxuan and proposed, “Husband, let’s visit the Shen family in a couple of days.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Chengxuan immediately agreed.

Three days later.

Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan visited the Shen family to pay their respects to the departed Shen Rushuang and Shen Baifei.

When they came out of the Shen family, they went straight to the Hidden Sword Palace to visit Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang.

Earth Walker and Yan Wushuang attached great importance to their arrival.

The two of them immediately informed Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang.

Soon.

Under the lead of Earth Walker and Yan Wushuang, Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan entered Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang’s cave abode and saw him.

“Greetings, Senior Xuan Yang.”

Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan immediately bowed.

Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang, dressed in a green robe, responded with a smile,

“Fellow Daoists, you don’t have to be so polite.”

After a pause, Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang said,

“So, did your journey to the Eastern End bear fruit?”

Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan nodded at Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang.

“Thanks to your blessing, Senior, our trip to the Eastern End was indeed fruitful.

But…”

At this point, Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan hesitated.

Eventually, they decided to share their experiences and observations from their travels in the Eastern End and the Southern Wilderness with Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang.

Hearing their account, Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang’s initially relaxed expression turned serious.

“I had sent Wushuang and Earth Walker to your Jiang family to check on your return because I was concerned about this very issue,” he revealed.

“Huh?”

Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan’s heart skipped a beat.

Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang continued, “I must tell you, the ambitions of the Eastern End and the Central Plain have become increasingly apparent.”

They are even willing to breach the contract previously established with the Southern Wilderness to seize nearly two-thirds of its territory.”

“What exactly do they intend to do?

Could it be that they really aim to unify the entire Nine Essences cultivation world?”

Jiang Chengxuan couldn’t help but ask.

Hearing his words, Earth Walker and Yan Wushuang, standing by, displayed shock on their faces.

Clearly, they were unaware of the actions of the Eastern End and the Central Plain and were hearing about them for the first time, which greatly impacted them.

Both turned their gazes towards Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang, whose expression remained serious.

He nodded slowly.

“Indeed, based on my and other fellow Daoists’ assessments, the Eastern End, or rather the Central Plain, indeed harbor ambitions to unify the Nine Essences cultivation world.

This moment, right after the demonic calamity, presents them with the best opportunity to carry out such a fear.”

Jiang Chengxuan, Shen Ruyan, Yan Wushuang, and Earth Walker were all shocked.

The timing was indeed opportune.

The demonic calamity had just ended, and the human cultivators were in a phase of recuperation.

The demons would not dare to launch any attacks against them, indicating that this was a moment free from external threats from the demons.

If the Eastern End and the Central Plain chose to act now, it would indeed be the most suitable time.

Missing this opportunity would make it incredibly difficult for them to find such favorable conditions in the future.

However, the human race had already been greatly weakened by the calamity.

Instead of focusing on recuperation, starting a cross-region war seemed counterintuitive. Wouldn’t such actions by these Soul Formation forces weaken the overall fate and fortune of the human race?

At that time, even the will of this world would probably be affected to a certain extent.

Once the internal strife within the human race reached a certain level, it would undoubtedly provide an opportunity for others to take advantage.

Could the Soul Formation forces of the Eastern End and Central Plain really not know the serious consequences?

They should have considered the consequences.

However, human nature’s flaws lie exactly here.

Even though you clearly know that doing so will bring endless troubles.

Even though you clearly know that doing so will give enemies opportunities to exploit.

Even though you clearly know that doing so will weaken the overall strength of their human race.

But, in the face of real interests, how many people can still remain unchanged?

Not swayed by it?

Those guys, they must have seen the once-in-a-millennium opportunity to unify the Nine Essences Cultivation World. Even though they are aware of the countless hidden dangers and risks, they are still willing to take a gamble.

It seemed like the Southern Wasteland was in danger.

After the confirmation from Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang, Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan understood.

The reason why the Southern Wilderness still retained one-third of its territory was not because the Eastern End and the Central Plain could not take it down.

The bigger reason was probably that they had not figured out how resources should be distributed within them, so the matter of completely occupying the Southern Wilderness had been temporarily shelved.

Once they internally agree on the distribution of resources, given the current situation in the Southern Wilderness, Heavenly Lord Scripture Abyss’s sect would probably not be able to hold on for long.

Even if the people from the Northern Border and the Western Desert wanted to rescue them, it would be impossible.

Fortunately, they did not stay too long in the Southern Wilderness.

Otherwise, once they were surrounded, it would become extremely difficult for them to escape from the Southern Wilderness.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chengxuan immediately said to Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang,

“So.

Has our Northern Border allied with the Sect of Infinite Boundaries of the Western Desert to form a strategic alliance against the union of the Eastern End and the Central Plain?”

“That’s right.”

In response to Jiang Chengxuan’s question, Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang did not deny it.

He nodded slowly.

“With the current situation, the alliance between us and the Sect of Infinite Boundaries of the Western Desert is the only way out for both sides.

After all, the difference in strength between us and the Eastern End and the Central Plain is too great.

Mutual alliance might allow us to hold on for a while longer.

Just wait until the beasts can once again launch an attack on our human race, the Eastern End and the Central Plain will naturally retreat.

Otherwise…”

Heavenly Lord Xuan Yang shook his head.

Although he didn’t finish his sentence, Jiang Chengxuan and others present clearly understood the meaning behind it..